Webber has openly wondered about his preferential treatment as far back as 2010, but Horner said until one driver began to show a clear winning trend compared to the other, the 36-year-old Australian would be given the same options as Vettel.

"Mark has been with team seven years, he knows he'll get equal treatment, that's why he's chosen to stay with us," Horner said.

"What happens on the circuit will determine which way our championship bid will tilt."

Webber said he anticipated it would be a tough F1 season, with rival teams pushing Red Bull harder than last year, when they ended 60 points clear of Ferrari.

He said the team needed to adjust the car's tendency to understeer when going around bends.

"We're not having a Grand Prix race tomorrow, thank God, so we'll work hard," he said. "We're going to be pushed hard. The team have been through a lot in the last four or five years so we are very strong mentally to deal with some ups and downs, as we proved last year."

Horner said last year had taught him how vital an ingredient consistency was.

"We delivered when it mattered," Horner said. "You've got to make sure you get the maximum from each race weekend of the 19 available this season."

Horner said mechanical reliability needed to combine with driver consistency for results to be maximised.

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